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>>30908551

HOLLOW SUN: 33.5%

http://pastebin.com/BCn0xVsn

RESEARCH:

[X] ESSENCE ASSIMILATOR
[X] AUDITO ARRAY
[X] VOID ANCHOR

VOID ANCHORS:

ORIGINAL HIVE

RED COMET GUIDE:

http://pastebin.com/7vzY4Zp2

>>30908579

woo hoo

JokerOP, homework where?

We know the Nihl didn't eat flesh and blood when we tried to clean up our murderhobo'ing after the storm. As the black shit infecting Shuya is Red based, it should eat that without chowing down on Shuya (I hope). Contact Spaghetti-san and inform him we have a situation. Have him call Tyrian so that he can set a quarantine room up in the hangar to prevent this from jumping and infecting our Joker Cave. Scan Rook's frame into the Joker Cave.

The idea is to create a vaccine to immunize US and everyone else we may recruit against Kraken's bullshit. After that, leave the Red and J-J-Jam the Sphere of Annihilation into Shuya to eat out the infection.

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>>30908579
Yo jqop, i found some more tech-angel hellion pics for you.

welcome back!

and
>>p30877160

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>>30908696

(I'm still working on it - It should be up later this week. It's a little more involved than I expected, and it's been a busy few days.)

The Cross Corner is a place of twilight; A dimly-lit, cavernous space of uncertain dimensions, twisting away from the light. Sound travels poorly, here: All words as inconsequential as a whisper, half-heard beneath the gentle creak and moan of the Corner's unnatural harmonics. On occasion, there is the clatter of wood on ivory - Odd breezes breathing through the black space, smelling of cold stone; Too cold to come from the night beyond.

Around Shuya, the gloom seems especially thick tonight. Half-hidden in shadow, his face is the stuff of nightmares; The veins standing out starkly against his skin, his cheeks sunken and hollow enough to be a death's-head - One eye milky and blind in the socket, the other a fiery, bloodshot red.

The black oil weeps from his blind eye in thick, syrup tears. It trickles from the corner of his mouth in slow rivulets - His fingers clenched in a claw around a snifter of something sharp and pungent, which he sips with deliberate care; Even so, stains speckle the varnished surface of the bar, tiny specks against the polished wood.

It may be your imagination, but - Beneath it all - you can almost hear the caustic hiss, smell the faintest tendrils of smoke coiling up from the surface.

"Been like this...For a full day." Shuya says - His lips are cracked and bleeding, from shaping the words. At his side, Isao stirs, uneasily; There's something in his gaze that's very much like dread. "-Could be worse...Eh, Joker?"

He winks, grotesquely, with one eye. The effort costs him - He doubles over, in a coughing, hacking fit, as he makes a fair attempt to cough his lungs out. "Hhh*hhhhchhhh* - Hurts like...a bastard," Shuya goes on; His free hand is carefully arrayed on the counter, unmoving except for the slight tremble of palsy.

(Continued)

>>30908768

Another thought. This may be similar to the Black Joker's curse. Which requires a Vitruvian Device. DUNGEON CRAWL, HO!

>>30908812
>it's been a busy few days.)

no shit! are you okay? I saw your twitter about a house fire, and THEN you got sick.

Holy shit, are you all right?

>>30908824
>Vitruvian Device.
This was my thought also. The hollow sun may also be an answer - as it's interface is nearly identital, and can diagnose things.

JQ: is research complete?

>>30908797

(That looks great!)

> JQ: is research complete?

(Not yet: It's actually the same day you started it.)

"Shuya-" Isao begins - His eyes are wide and dark. His own drink is untouched, as he tugs - With absent-minded worry - at the unravelling threads of his scarf. A brief, ferocious look from Shuya silences him; Something unseen passes between the two, and Isao subsides, staring into the depths of his glass.

"Better now," Shuya rasps. "Bitch was...*inside* me. In *here*." His fingers splay against his chest - "Could hear...filthy thoughts. Filthy, in my...head. Like some...damned *puppet*."

The memory makes him shudder. He downs his drink, and rivulets drool from the dead side of his twitching face. He spits, from the corner of his mouth - It's a clotted sound, thick and phlegmy - before he leans forward; Resting his forehead against his raised hand, his chest laboring for air.

"-Don't blame you. Did what you...had to do."

A flash of his fierce smile, just a ghostly shadow of it.

"Really was...trying to kill you. Couldn't...hhhhcchhh...stop it."

[ ] "Shuya, man. You need help."
[ ] "-I did what I could, that's all."
[ ] "What are you going to do?"
[ ] "-What did you hear?"
[ ] "Are the others alive?"
[ ] "-I may be able to help you."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>30908924
>[ ] "-I may be able to help you."
>[ ] "Are the others alive?"
>[ ] "-What did you hear?"

>>30908924
>[x] "-What did you hear?"
>[x] "What are you going to do?"

>>30908924

Nod at Isao in greeting and say, "You probably saved our asses dozens of times over with those rockets. Thanks for that."

Sit down at the bar beside Shuya and say, "You look like shit. I can't promise anything, but I might be able to get that infection out." Palm the Nihl. "Which option do you want? The fast and maybe lethal or the slow, time consuming, and guaranteed way?"

>>30908924
"How much of you was... you? Did you plan the raid, or was that Alura?"

>>30908994
Eesh. No, too dramatic.

>>30908924
>[ ] "Shuya, man. You need help."

>>30909034

It's options. Does he want the cuddly warmth of our fist driving through his sternum again and maybe die or does he want to go on another dungeon crawl looking for a Vitruvian Device and die slower.

He'll also get a power up with the Device.

>>30909057
No, I mean that sounds like you're trying too hard.

> Nod at Isao in greeting and say, "You probably saved our asses dozens of times over with those rockets. Thanks for that."

Isao starts, at being directly addressed; He nods, silently, concern writ large over his features.

>>30909000

"I...don't *know*."

You can hear the exhausted frustration in Shuya's voice. "In my head...How long? Some of it. Maybe...All. But if...they *knew* - Why let us...?"

He shakes his head. "Don't know..."

> [X] "Are the others alive?"

Again that tight-lipped, lopsided smile.

"You see...the signs?" Shuya says - A flash of triumph in his eyes. "All over...the city - Spreading...the word." He tries to laugh, but it becomes a hacking cough instead. "-Idiots...Lost so many, but they're *still*..."

He wipes his mouth on his sleeve.

>>30908954
>>30908972

> [X] "-What did you hear?"

"Flashes...Glimpses," Shuya rasps - His features screw up in remembered pain, his brow furrowing. "The moon...A garden - An *Ark* - a sea of...black oil..." Involuntarily, his fingers twitch against the counter. "So *cold*, Joker. Cold...forever."

He's growing agitated, his eyes unfocused.

"No sense...Makes no sense..."

> [X] "Shuya, man. You need help."

"I've been trying to *tell* him," Isao says - He looks torn, like he can't decide whether to make for the door, or to catch Shuya when he topples. "-He was even worse *before*-"

> [X] "-I may be able to help you."

Isao's head comes up, a sudden flare of hope in his eyes.

"You can?" An aside glance. "Shuya, you sh-"

"Later." It's a growl. "Later...for that."

Another spasm of coughing wrenches through Shuya, and he doubles over - He retches, his throat working as he clutches at the edge of the counter; His dead arm at his side, now, as he pulls himself back upright through sheer force of will.

(Continued)

>>30908924
>[ ] "Shuya, man. You need help."
[ ] "-I may be able to help you."

>>30909172
>The moon...A garden - An *Ark* - a sea of...black oil..."

Oh fuck.

THATS what they want the hyades game for/to win.

>>30908924
>(That looks great!)

the superior one i think is, its even red and friction-axe/jokerish >>30877160

>>30909190

I'm missing something here. Care to explain your thoughts?

>>30909128

Got a better option then?

>>30909172

>an ark

Oh boy this is going to end fucking splendidly. When Shuya stops impersonating a trout and hacking his esophagus out, we pump him for as much information as we can.

>>30909222
It's not what you said, it's how you said it, no offence intended. There are more appropriate ways to phrase it.

>>30909211

he's talking about the moon - where cybele is - and the spaceship traveling towards us - which are the hyades game, possibly The Convergence (iirc there's a counter on their ship)

The one we see is a nice garden, a beautiful living paradise.

The one alura sees is is a sea of corrupting black oil that will spill over the earth, corrupting everything - and likely how they plan on wrecking the shroud between worlds.

So this is a taste of consequences to come if we don't stop them - but also a hint. There are many different spaceships - but only the winners get their version realized.

Also, the smilers game plan is realized: They have a player who can control correctors, and a player/hyades/correctorthing that can turn players into correctors.
Then they have a plan to ruin the shroud and make the world follow the rules of the red.

This isn't sick twisted experiments on crossing the two worlds through infectious mechanics .

Its a plot for world domination. Literally.


I'm also wondering if the hint from the white joker about the sealed-away-hyades refers to Cybele, not Mistery Mio Lady. Every other hyades walks the earth - that one smilers(i always confuse kraken and kaiser) have their lassie spectating games at school and in the club fight, etc.

"A...black chair - Old as...anything can be - Worms in a, a *heart* -" Shuya grits out - Sweat gleams on his brow. "-Joker..."

"-That's enough." Isao, on some level, has always been terrified of you. But now, he's moved to give you a reproachful glance - "You're *hurting* him."

"Trust...no one." It's a brittle rasp, urgent enough to make Isao pause. Shuya's sweat-soaked claw latches onto your arm, his fingers digging into it. "If they could...do this to *me* - Anyone could...be infected. Anyone. Anyone."

> [X] "What are you going to do?"

His eyes close, for a moment. His sheer exhaustion is palpable, his face aged beyond his years.

"Just...sleep for a while." His voice is a hiss, soft and nearly inaudible. "No more...nightmares. Just - sleep."

Shuya slumps forward, against the counter. He folds against it, a long sigh of escaping breath sawing from his throat - He's breathing, but slowly, his features gaunt and raw-boned.

"Shit-" Isao's chair skids back, as he stumbles to his feet. "Shuya? SHUYA!"

[ ] "He's all right. Let him sleep."
[ ] "-We need to get him to the Hollow Sun. Now."
[ ] "We need to get him to the hospital."
[ ] "We need to call Argent Prominence. He'll know what to do."
[ ] Palm the Nihl Sphere. "Help me carry him. We need to get him out of here."
[ ] Free.

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>30909299

Speaking of Mio, gotta eventually track down Hellebore and get that particular subplot out of the way.

Our main concern right now should be breaking the walking tesla coils death flag at all costs though. I'm thinking that if we tell Volt to stay home during the festival, we'll have a 50/50.

>>30909350
>[ ] "-We need to get him to the Hollow Sun. Now."

>>30909350

Attempt to eat the infection with Nihl. If it doesn't work, we go with option B and take him to the Joker Cave for analysis. Find out what makes this thing tick and create an inoculation agent. Do contact Spaghetti-san and have him get Tyrian to set up a quarantine chamber JUST IN CASE.

>>30909350
>[ ] Palm the Nihl Sphere. "Help me carry him. We need to get him out of here."

At the very least, cast the nihl light over his body - this is going to be one of those on-both-sides infections.


Then follow up with:
[ ] "We need to call Argent Prominence. He'll know what to do."
while
[f] Taking him to the hollow sun.
Going to ahve to face the music eventually, and last time we resolved to put all our cards on the table.
Argent is going to *need* to know that this attack wasn't his people being rogue or disobeying - it was a deliberate plan to kill off as many of his people as possible through puppeteering leaders.

>>30909435

only a squad or two were his folks though.

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>>30909435
>Trusting Argent

>>30909350
Shit. Call Argent.

>>30909350
>Palm the Nihl Sphere. "Help me carry him. We need to get him out of here."
Then if that doesn't work;
>"-We need to get him to the Hollow Sun. Now."

>>30909435
This.

>>30909457

Yes, BUT everyone else were free mercenaries - ie the people who might rise up against them or take other sides.

If the RJ hadn't been there, it would have been a clean sweep killing ALL their enemies in one go - or turning them into puppets

>>30909466
Stop whining and read up. he's working to save the world, and actually came clean about some stuff.

From 84, what i mean: >>30584222
>We should put all our cards on the table. Except maybe Leukocyte, for the perfect "Fuck you Smilers" moment. Offer Argent a trade: Enough Hollow Sun weapons to equip his people in exchange for codebursts and his research on the Manifold Towers. If Rook is alive, we'll have to keep him, no way he can go back to Argent, but Rook needs to come clean himself.
>Oh, and we should really find out which of Armaros' pals leaked us Bardiel's location, no way they did that under Argent's direction.

>>30909350

>[ ] Palm the Nihl Sphere. "Help me carry him. We need to get him out of here."
>[ ] "-We need to get him to the Hollow Sun. Now."

Hold off on contacting Argent first.

>>30909505
>Hold off on contacting Argent first.

Yeah no. What if rook isn't the only compromised one? What if the smilers already KNOW about his secret hidey-hole project.

He needs to know about their power to just straight-up subvery anyone

>>30909350
>[ ] Palm the Nihl Sphere.

Is.... this a suggestion for murdering him?

>>30909435
Seconding this plan of action. Hedge our bets, do multiple things.

>>30909514

Okay, fair enough.

I'm >>30909505, go with >>30909435

But we're taking Rook to the Hollow Sun to do our work first.

>>30909466
Rook IS Argent's though.

If we contact Argent, he'll want EXPLANATIONS.

>WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO, JOKER?! I TOLD YOU TO PLUG THE LEAKS NOT START A WAR.

>I'm killing the players causing the leaks, Argent. It's very productive.

>>30909565
>>WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO, JOKER?! I TOLD YOU TO PLUG THE LEAKS NOT START A WAR.
>>I'm killing the players causing the leaks, Argent. It's very productive.

He's going to find out ANYWAY when people show up dead, AND 'holy shit the smilers can turn players into corrector puppets, and YOUR MOST TRUSTED ADVISER LED EVERYONE TO THEIR DEATHS, AND FURTHERMORE probably compromised your secret project' trumps getting in trouble with granpa.

Also getting the word out that phantom edge is *alive*.
The only reason it didn't go MORE south is the RJ was there.

Argent needs to find out the Bad News, NOW, from US, before what he doesn't know about fucks him over.

>>30909358
>Speaking of Mio, gotta eventually track down Hellebore and get that particular subplot out of the way.
Given phantom edge living, though, and the thief being unable to ascend - finding akira and keeping him alive is likely the key to stopping PE from becoming whole.

>>30909599

> "Help me carry him. We need to get him out of here."

"Wha-" Isao gives you a startled, frightened look - But he helps you bundle Shuya out of his chair, supporting him between the two of you. He's not heavy, but his limp form is hard to brace - More, there's an unclean, unwholesome smell that lingers in the air, thick and cloying. Isao hisses, catches his breath as the black oil oozing from Shuya's blind eye spatters against his skin; He flinches, but doesn't pull away even as his own flesh begins to blister.

You don't take him far, not at first. It's a brief stagger to a rusted bench in a distant alcove; The place stinks of mold and damp, but it's a safe place to catch your breath. The Nihl Sphere's weight settles into the palm of your hand - You're not sure what you can do on this side, but...

When the violet light of the Nihl Sphere limns Shuya's form, Isao nearly throws up.

The unlight casts an uncertain, flickering radiance, the hood of Shuya's coat pulled back as his head lolls - His breathing raw, now, rasping, cold sweat gleaming on his skin. But what you *see*-

Beneath his skin, black veins pulse and throb - Moving shapes, thin, worm-like cilia pushing at the curves of his cheekbones and jaw. Even as you watch, dark lesions - Hard and black like clots - bead Shuya's throat and forehead.

-Some of them have opened, like eyes.

(Continued)

>>30909565
He'll know eventually, if he doesn't already. And this is a chance to put our cards on the table. Invite him to the Hollow Sun and we can start planning a real anti-Smiler countermeasure, and maybe do more for Rook.

>>30909613
>but doesn't pull away even as his own flesh begins to blister.

fuck. I hope we didn't get splattered.

In any case we need to decontaminate Hazes too. And us probably.

>>30909627
I'm all for telling Argent about everything the smilers did but fuck no to inviting him to the hollow sun.

>>30909613

>splatters
>blisters

Shit. If this is contagious... we're C'hauliflower food.

>>30909613
>-Some of them have opened, like eyes.

"Knife. Gloves. Plasticwrap."

>>30909627

Don't forget our meta knowledge. OP let an option slip way back when we fought Kraken the first time that we stole it from the squid himself.

>>30909676

wait, what? Remind me

>>30909613

"Oh, Jesus-"

You hear the horror, the disgust, in Isao's voice.

"What *is* that? *What the hell is that*?"

You wrench at Shuya's shirt - The light playing over him, his skin feverish to the touch. There's something at the very core of his being; Something glassy and hard and coiled, like a nesting spider. Thin feelers of liquid darkness issue from the core, like threads of lurking poison - The murky infection pressing against the cage of his skin-

You flinch back, as the liquid pus dribbles onto your hand. It's a reflexive action - But where it touches you, your skin doesn't blister, or boil; It just slides off, like oil across water.

Isao doesn't even notice.

(Continued)

>>30909692

Excellent.

At least we're immune.

How to code the immunity from RJ though...

>>30909627
>>30909676

Hit enter too soon...

Tyrian's been poking around in the systems for a solid week or two now I think. Get Argent's people involved and we can probably sort out their real IDs.

>>30909685

Before we fought Kraken in the arena after killing the Smiler we tracked down from the art museum ambush. There was an option to taunt the jellyfish about stealing the Joker Cave.

>>30909707

Mana transfers.

>>30909707
It's something from the Red World isn't it? We're seeing what's happening to his Essence, like the Thief's horrific hand injury.

I think the solution is going to be rigging up an Essence dialysis machine. Run Rook's soul through a scrubber.

>>30909708
Well yeah, Kraken was there to take it after Kaiser and Pazuzu both failed to do it themselves.

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Up the stairs. Outside.

It's a staggering, shambling walk into the brighter streets - Somewhere you can hail a taxi. It takes more cursing, more shoving, to push Shuya inside; Isao doesn't utter a word of complaint, but you notice him cradling his hand to his chest - His fingers have swollen up, and he's biting his lip hard enough to draw blood.

The Hollow Sun, thankfully, isn't far; It's near a decaying row of shophouses, their windows shuttered, the doors rotting on their hinges. Between the two of you, you somehow manage to drag Shuya into the alley - He slides to the ground without grace, in a nerveless sprawl.

The smell is measurably worse, now.

>>30909398
>>30908768

> Do contact Spaghetti-san and have him get Tyrian to set up a quarantine chamber JUST IN CASE.

You punch in the numbers. It's a cold night; Your breath smokes in the air. Your fingers are numb, as you kneel besides Shuya - "He's burning up," Isao mutters. He doesn't dare to touch him, as black oil seeps undammed from Shuya's eye, a dark trickle that joins the weeping torrent from the corner of his mouth; "...What did she *do* to him?"

There's a helpless anger, in his voice - His mouth works, as he stares in sick dread; This is so far out of his experience, he's utterly disarmed.

Kouichi picks up on the fourth ring. It's silent, wherever he is; His voice is perfectly clear over the line. "Anon?" His words are measured, but you detect a note of confusion - He wasn't expecting you to call.

"-Is something wrong?"

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>30909806

I curious.

Is it anon or his essence (soul, whatever) that is immune.

What if we cut our palm and let our blood drip on Haze's hand. I want to test this.

>>30909806

(Gentlemen, a quick question: Will you be relying on the Hollow Sun for this, calling Argent Prominence, or some combination of the above measures?)

>>30909844
Both.

Conference call argent in, and explain simultaneously to both.

We're gonna need both their help - argent's expertise, tyrian to warm up the HS for surgery

>>30909806
"In a manner of--actually, this isn't the time for lip. Yes. Get Tyrian in, we're going to need to make the Sun do things outside its purpose."

And, may I again suggest we bring Argent in? This is entirely outside our area of expertise, while Argent has experience AND a vested interest in keeping his people alive.

>>30909844
AP only.

>>30909852

Wait. We REALLY, REALLY don't want Argent Prominence to know about the Hollow Sun. I think we should get Rook checked out at the Sun, then have Argent Prominence help him.

>>30909806

"Tyrian at the Sun? I have a situation that needs quarantined from both the real and red. Kraken's Hyades' planted something in Rook and whatever Kraken did is eating him from the inside... probably starting to eat Haze now to by the looks of it."

>>30909844

A bit from column a and b.

>>30909866
I vote for this.

>>30909844

Both.

As per >>30909852 & >>30909856

>>30909835 is somewhat interesting as well, considering how the infectious substance didn't affect us.

>>30909866
>Wait. We REALLY, REALLY don't want Argent Prominence to know about the Hollow Sun. I think we should get Rook checked out at the Sun, then have Argent Prominence help him.

No, thats YOU.

last thread we realized that we need to put our cards on the table, man up, and DO SOMETHING before everyone gets fucked.

We don't have to show him everything, but we do need to put our cards on the table.

Fuck you for being so paranoid. This is the endgame. we need to choose a side. >>30909627
>He'll know eventually, if he doesn't already. And this is a chance to put our cards on the table. Invite him to the Hollow Sun and we can start planning a real anti-Smiler countermeasure, and maybe do more for Rook.

This is our best damn chance to get rook off his ass and give the smilers -real- problem, not everyone lying down letting them take over the world.

What are you so worried about? The sun is locked to us anyway. Its not like he can steal it.

And he's shown us his secret sanctum already.

Voting for revealing - argent NEEDS to know what's happened.

>>30909895

>mfw we bottle Joker's blood and sell it as a cure-all.

>>30909911

Actually a possibility, mind you.

>>30909911

Its not the joker its the nihl. Keep our friend away from it all

>>30909835

No time for shit. This is a life+death emergency.

its likely this is non-contagious, because he was infected on the other plane, and we weren't.

However...

"Haze. I need you to head over to the other side, take a look at him, and pop back. There's a monster growing in him, don't fight, just look."

To be frank, are we going to ever let the tri-stars at the real loot in the Sun? We really should at some point let 'em into the real armory of this place and have 'em select something.

>>30909856
Absolutely agreed.
Use the Hollow Sun and let AP help.

Hey, guys, what if the Hollow Sun can heal AP?

>>30909844


>>30909895
>>30909856
>>30909852

Superior suggestions.

>>30909946
>To be frank, are we going to ever let the tri-stars at the real loot in the Sun? We really should at some point let 'em into the real armory of this place and have 'em select something.
When they start planting void anchors for us. If they want to spend energy, they can farm it up.
Like i've suggested for billions of threads.

>>30909946
We have, actually. We gave each of them a Relic, and they've outfitted themselves with Hollow Sun weapons.

>>30909953
He's got shards of Red World material in his real world brain. I don't know if there's much the Sun can do for him. Might be worth a suggestion if nothing else.

>>30909974
>He's got shards of Red World material in his real world brain. I don't know if there's much the Sun can do for him. Might be worth a suggestion if nothing else.

It has fantastic diagnostic powers, if nothing else

>>30909953

>heal AP

We'd need a neurosurgeon in the red world.

Or we took the Tachyon genny to Argent to see what he could have come up with.. which has me incredibly curious what he would have done with it.

>>30909992
>It has fantastic diagnostic powers, if nothing else

actually, it could probably give us a clue to unlocking the red joker's memory, now that its installed - our compatability keeps going up, but it looks like a puzzle box. One we're going to have to unlock

>>30909992
>It has fantastic diagnostic powers, if nothing else
Guys, I fear that it would cause certain ambitions to rise in AP.
Sure, he's the good guy now. But that's because he's vulnerable.
Imagine him without the shards in his brain.

>>30910005

The interesting part will come when he sees the bitchin' armor in our basement.

>>30909998
>We'd need a neurosurgeon in the red world.

..... naoya, huh? Was that a pair that was supposed to meet?

>>30909998
>Or we took the Tachyon genny to Argent to see what he could have come up with.. which has me incredibly curious what he would have done with it.
Actaully, I want to see if the HS can research a way to make more of them - now that its analyzed them and built it into things and stored theories - i would hope we can unlock a tachyon theory research tree. Likely off of some other energy/particle/laser research trees.

>>30910005

The shards in his brain are -why- he's able to work with the nanomaterial better tho - and why he's on a time limit to get his work done as fast as possible.

I figure throwing the HS behind his work can speed it up to the point where he's less likely to die with his work unfinished.

he BEGGED us to not let anything happen before he repairs the shroud.
he can't let any interruptions stop his work before he falls over dead.

... but interruptions did/are gonna happen. So we gotta take our best alternative to protect the world from the smilers.

>>30910005
>>30910016

Wait a second, did the Sun ever clean up the giant war armor we delimbed when we first breached the joint with the Tri-Stars? Or did it cannibalize it for essence?

>>30909869

A pause.

"A what? *What*?"

You can almost imagine Kouichi's expression - He seems about to say more, but he catches himself at the last moment. For a moment, you're almost certain that you can hear his sigh.

>>30909856
>>30909869

Maybe Kouichi's expecting trouble - Or maybe he's just resigned to it. Either way, he takes your call with admirable aplomb. There's a pause, the muffled conversation in the background; When he returns to the line, he sounds slightly out of breath.

"Tyrian's in," he says. Then:

"-Be careful."

The line clicks off. It's rather brusque, for Kouichi - But perhaps he's glad not to be personally involved in this; Not yet, anyway.

>>30909945

Isao looks up at you; There's a flash of fear in his eyes, raw and unalloyed. But then - Very slowly - he nods. He draws a deep, steeling breath - His gaze going distant, an unfocused thousand-yard stare...

And then he wrenches back, so suddenly he nearly falls over.

"Oh Jesus," he chokes out. "Oh *God*-"

There's barely-concealed panic in his voice, as his gaze locks with yours - "Anon - It's growing *out* of him. I can see...*Bones*, and growths, and these fucked-up things like *tumours*-"

"...What are we going to *do*?"

You don't answer; Not right away, at least.

You have another call to make.

Mr. Ebara picks up on the first ring.

(Continued)

>>30910016
We might not include that in the guided tour.

>>30910076
And now for the popcorn gifs.

>>30910076

>Mr. Ebara picks up on the first ring

THIS GONE B GOOD

File: 1395134734018.gif-(497 KB, 275x210, colbert popcorn.gif)

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>>30910076

here we go

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>>30910097
>And now for the popcorn gifs.

Oh i see what happened.

We didn't nihl-bust the organ controlling him.

We busted the egg sac. And now its growing prematurely.

File: 1395134866512.gif-(783 KB, 320x240, popcorn.gif)

783 KB GIF

>>30910097
>And now for the popcorn gifs.

If anyone plays Akinator and asks for the Red Joker...
It's my fault.

File: 1395134955359.gif-(1 MB, 350x191, 1354409380523.gif)

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>>30910076
>Mr. Ebara picks up on the first ring.

File: 1395134963427.gif-(1.46 MB, 301x250, popcorn 3.gif)

1.46 MB GIF

>>30910076
>Mr. Ebara picks up on the first ring.

I hope the joker is feeling eloquent today!

File: 1395135065424.gif-(1.67 MB, 320x179, dis-gonna-be-good-bear-si(...).gif)

1.67 MB GIF

>>30910142

>>30910076
>"...What are we going to *do*?"

(for later): "I'll kill it on the other side if I have to"

File: 1395135361916.gif-(486 KB, 256x192, colbert movie popcorn.gif)

486 KB GIF

>>30910097
>And now for the popcorn gifs.

File: 1395135553432.jpg-(123 KB, 1440x810, 1341854560845.jpg)

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>>30910170

>(for later)
>pic related

>>30910076

"Ah, Anon. Capital."

It's perfectly quiet where he is; At this time, he's most likely in his glittering tower of an office, looking through the window at the city below. He's using your name, this time - A bad sign.

He sounds like he's been expecting you, too. That's worse.

"It's good that you called; I've been awaiting a report. In fact-" There's an edge to his voice, now; You hear the faint creak of his chair's springs - He's standing, his expensive shoes scuffing against the polished tiles of the floor.

"-I was about to task Mr. Sakaguchi with making contact." A pause. "Fortunately, I believe that will no longer be necessary."

He exhales, slowly. There's a discomfiting note to his voice; It's measured, deliberate, as if he's holding something back. "At any rate, your call comes at a fortuitous juncture. After all-"

"...I believe we have much to talk about."

"Now; Would you care to explain...What in all Heaven's sake is *going on*?"

[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>30910252
>"Now; Would you care to explain...What in all Heaven's sake is *going on*?"
"Sure. We can begin by removing the hellspawn from one of your people. He got infected and now I'm trying to safe his life.
Explanations will come afterwards."

>>30910252
>"Now; Would you care to explain...What in all Heaven's sake is *going on*?"

"A bunch of really bad things, so I'm going to go in reverse order. Shorter version: Smilers have a player that can control correctors, and another player who can turn players *into* correctors to control like a slave puppet. I have one of your people who's infected and turning - and its spilling over into the real - and I need your essence-shaping expertise to save him. Medical attention first, questions later. You game? "

>>30910252

"Look, not a lot of time, trying to keep Rook from erupting into something horrifying. Meet me at (location of Hollow Sun). You showed me yours so it's high time I showed you mine. I'll even disable the automated defenses."

>>30910252
"It's a long story. I'll give a biased explanation later. Right now, I have one of your men here who's slowly mutating into a half-corrector-esque abomination and probably won't last long, so I need your help."

>>30910252
"I took control of the Original Hive. It should cease to exist within the month. More importantly, Palladium Rook has been infected with some kind of Manchurian Cordyceps. Your help in expunging them would be greatly appreciated. In exchange, I'll tell you the entire story.

"Come to the Rift. Bring some of your people, if you must, but be quick. Shuya's condition is deteriorating."

>>30910252
"I invaded a smiler facility where they made player-corrector hybrids. Palladium Rook is one of them. I need your help to see if we can heal him.

>>30910315
I'll favor this response.

in addition to meet-you-at-x and ill-show-you-my-base "I don't think its safe to bring him to your base like this"

Before Argent actually arrives, I'd like to temporarily kick Hellion production to maximum, just to make the reveal all the more impressive. We can (and should) put it back to where it is once he leaves.

>>30910252

"Is this line secure?"

"One of your men was infected. Tried to kill me during an outing. Neutralized the threat before he could deal anymore self harm. Now he's turning into a corrector and it's spilling into the real. I have the sinking suspicion that you could have more infected in your organization, Fumito."

>>30910351

>wasting resources.

Why not just shuffle them around on moving pylons to LOOK like they're being manufactured?

>>30910361
>Tried to kill me during an outing.

"Not just tried to. Was ordered to, and obeyed instantly. "

>>30910351

We've been slowly stockpiling Hellions for a while now. Having the ones already manufactured standing at attention when Argent enters would be stellar.

Have the Comet on display as well.

>>30910276
>>30910281
>>30910293
>>30910310
>>30910315
>>30910326

> More importantly, Palladium Rook has been infected with some kind of Manchurian Cordyceps.

There's a long, dreadful pause.

"-I see," Mr. Ebara says, at last. His voice is deceptively mild. "This would be the very same young man suspended from active duty, I suppose? The one, I believe, who recently suffered an untimely and unfortunate loss?"

> "I took control of the Original Hive."

"Ah." In the same mild tone; "And this would be the Hive with suspected Smiler activity, of course. The very same individuals, I recall, that I warned you not to provoke?"

His words hang in the air for an eternity.

(Continued)

>>30910351
Or we could just not show him the Hollow Sun, as it's undoubtedly a completely fucking terrible idea.

>>30910384

Shit.

>>30910384
>The very same individuals, I recall, that I warned you not to provoke?
Rationally speaking it doesn't make a difference if it's us or other people that provoke the Smilers, right?

Our alibi is the fact that the raid would have happened anyway.

>>30910384

The other shoe drops.

Called that before the raid even began. And we never did get a single appeasement gift for Argent.

>>30910384
"They were close to reviving the original Phantom Edge Argent. If I didn't attack then you wouldn't have enough time to complete you-know-what.

So you're welcome."

>>30910384

"Not to stroke my ego, Argent, but I recruited Rook and the others for that op."

Time for disinfo and to keep Rook from being fed to the wolves.

>>30910419
>>30910428
This. Argent stop being a shit just because you are our senior.

>>30910293

Just tell him the location. DO NOT mention the Hollow Sun yet.

>>30910384
>His words hang in the air for an eternity.

>>30910428
This second.

>>30910431

DONT say this.

This is not about assigning blame. This is about laying facts out straight and reacting.


"The same. Here's the thing: If I hadn't gone, it would be way worse. That man was under the control of the smilers as a puppet. If I *hadn't* have gone, he would have let as many of your people as possible, and any neutral mercs, into the deathtrap ANYway. "

"You were looking at up to twenty more of your people being turned into smilers slaves, by the way. I doubt your secret project, or your fighting force to defend it, would remain intact."

"also, they actually resurrected phantom edge.

>>30910431
>Time for disinfo and to keep Rook from being fed to the wolves.
Fuck disinformation. Be honest, but spin it in a moving-forward not-blaming-anyone slant

>>30910419
>>30910421
Oh please. Does Argent think they'd leave him alone because he wasn't doing anything to them? They moved into their end game a week ago, when the Smiler Players abandoned their real lives. He and Armaros made the mistake of thinking that the Smilers were unorganized and small. Not only are they a larger group than Argent's, but they've got better tech and are closer to achieving their goal.

>>30910428
They DID revive Phantom Edge though.

>>30910438
>>30910455
Just chill. We don't need to say anything just now. In fact, we shouldn't. Let's see where Argent wants to take this.

>>30910384
>"Ah." In the same mild tone; "And this would be the Hive with suspected Smiler activity, of course. The very same individuals, I recall, that I warned you not to provoke?"

"They would have gone without me, like lambs to the slaughter. He's been an agent for the smilers since I rescued him the first time. he would have unwittingly done anything to further the smilers end-game: Like killing or turning anyone who could resist them."

"In the end, it doesn't matter what you warned me of, and this way we're ahead. I've also figured out what their end game plan is."
>>30909299
>Also, the smilers game plan is realized: They have a player who can control correctors, and a player/hyades/correctorthing that can turn players into correctors.
>Then they have a plan to ruin the shroud and make the world follow the rules of the red.
>This isn't sick twisted experiments on crossing the two worlds through infectious mechanics .
>Its a plot for world domination. Literally.

>>30910468
>Just chill. We don't need to say anything just now. In fact, we shouldn't. Let's see where Argent wants to take this.

What? What?
WHAT watashiwa?

You voted to put all our cards on the table, and now you're pulling a backsie to 'dont say anything?'.

Fuck that.

Tell him the truth: His warnings wouldn't have mattered, because rook's been a smiler agent anyway this entire time.

>>30910468
JQOP described him being led like a baby from that Hyades. His body might be revived but his mind (and I assume his sword skills) is fucked.

>>30910388
>Or we could just not show him the Hollow Sun, as it's undoubtedly a completely fucking terrible idea.

You obviously didn't read the archives, where we figured out argent's endgame goal - and its nothing sinister like we've been fearing

>>30910489
What I'm saying is "Don't have this conversation over the phone" and "Don't offer write-ins between prompts".

That last one got us in trouble during the Kraken fight, most recently.

>>30910496
>JQOP described him being led like a baby from that Hyades. His body might be revived but his mind (and I assume his sword skills) is fucked.

Yeah, his arm and his sword are with the thief, who's being hounded and chased for his life.

We voted to do girlfriend stuff instead.

Gotta go find him and his lantern before the smilers get the fatal abyss. Do you guys REALLY want that to happen?

>>30910511
>What I'm saying is "Don't have this conversation over the phone" and "Don't offer write-ins between prompts".
THAT is a fair point.

Yup. totally.

Voting to let JQOP continue until he's done with the (continued)s.

>>30910496
>His body might be revived but his mind (and I assume his sword skills) is fucked.
His probably doesn't matter. He was always described as mindless raging beast that slaughters everything in his way. He's an end-game player, so he is extremely dangerous even without his sanity.

>>30910525
>who's being hounded and chased for his life.
>We voted to do girlfriend stuff instead.
We couldn't follow him either way.

>>30910526
baby=/=beast. His beastial mindset is what he lacks when we saw him.

>>30910281
>>30910276
>>30910310
>>30910361
>>30910428
>>30910455

"Mmmnn." His response is surprisingly measured - Just a low, thoughtful sound at your revelation. There's the low murmur of conversation, fuzzy and indistinct, as he addresses someone to the side. Giving orders, you assume.

>>30910475

"Assuming these...wild assumptions...to be accurate - I would have expected you to inform me, first. Especially with regard to such a delicate matter." Mr. Ebara sighs; It's a slow exhalation of breath. For a moment, he sounds very, very tired.

"If you approached me, first, this could all have been avoided...But it seems that the damage has been done."

Another sigh.

"Perhaps...I overestimated you, young man."

"-Couldn't you have *asked*?"

>>30910293
>>30910315

> "Come to the Rift. Bring some of your people, if you must, but be quick. Shuya's condition is deteriorating."

"That's inconsiderate of you, Anon. My work is at a...extremely volatile stage, if you recall. At any rate - I can hardly depart on such short notice."

At your feet, Isao looks up. He mouths; 'What's he saying?' with the wide-eyed stare of a deer in the headlights.

(Continued)

>>30910534

We went to the Red world assuming the threat stemmed from that side.

It didn't and Anon went with his dick-stinct.

>>30910534
>We couldn't follow him either way.

He dropped his lantern and we didn't even try to find the other half.

>>30910545
>"-Couldn't you have *asked*?"

"we just found out barely a day ago. This IS going to you first."

"I saw your pretas experiment and assumed you were a bad guy. Because of It, I've been keeping my cards close to my chest."

"I understand how sensitive your work is. Thats why I want you to come. I own the Hollow Sun. If you're constructing a great work, you want my help with it. Now, more than ever, its going to be needed sooner than later"

>>30910545
>"That's inconsiderate of you, Anon. My work is at a...extremely volatile stage, if you recall. At any rate - I can hardly depart on such short notice."

"I didn't call you because I wanted you to be a housecalled doctor. I called you because Shuya might not be the only sleeper agent the Smilers have on your side and that would be disastrous."

>>30910592
>"I didn't call you because I wanted you to be a housecalled doctor. I called you because Shuya might not be the only sleeper agent the Smilers have on your side and that would be disastrous."

"This is something you need to see with your own eyes to see how serious the matter is. "

>>30910585
>"I saw your pretas experiment and assumed you were a bad guy. Because of It, I've been keeping my cards close to my chest."
Do NOT ever say to someone that you didn't trust them in the past, that would make them question everything you do from now on.

>>30910545

On the phone, Mr. Ebara continues:

"At any rate - Mr. Sakaguchi is on his way to your present location. He has been briefed accordingly; Once Shuya is at a secure facility, then..."

Another thoughtful silence.

"Well. We shall see."

His breath hitches, then steadies. "You let him do this, Anon. I would have had no further bloodshed - And yet, you let him do this anyway. Was there *truly* no other choice?"

"This is hardly the end of this, Anon. I am...disappointed in you. Extremely disappointed."

[ ] "-I need you down *here*. There's something I have to show you."
[ ] "I'll get him to the hospital myself."
[ ] "All right: We'll wait."
[ ] "He may not last that long."
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>30910602

"Send armaros if you can't come yourself"

>>30910610
>[ ] "He may not last that long."

"..and if he dies then its a pretty safe bet that the parasite would disappear too. And if THAT happens then I doubt you would be able to check for other parasites inside your people."

>>30910610

"I can't speak more now. Gotta get Rook on the otherside before he witches out. Talk to you later, Argent."

Hang up the phone. Hop to the red and apply a bit of Nihl to the growth sprouting from Rook's chest cavity to slow it down. Only maim it, we want it alive to study.

>>30910610
>Was there *truly* no other choice?"

Send him a snapshot of rook's infection on our phone.

"Before he passed out, shuya said someone was in his head, sharing thoughts, playing him like a puppet. A red world disease caused THIS in the real. I get how disappointed you are, but you aren't taking me seriously because of it. "
"If shuya dies here, then any leads onto how to find or cure this go away too - and he's fading fast."

Tap into the red joker memory, find a fragment of attitute, phrases, familiarity that the Old Joker used with his friend, and use them to deliver.
>>30910610
>[ ] "-I need you down *here*. There's something I have to show you."

>>30910610
>[X] "-I need you down *here*. There's something I have to show you."

"I don't give a damn about your disappointment. I give a damn about the other people in your organisation who have correctors crawling around inside them. If you don't want to see the Red Joker's Nuclear Option personally, send Armaros, but don't try to play mindgames with me."

>>30910668

>>[X] "-I need you down *here*. There's something I have to show you."

Again, don't show him the Hollow Sun, people. The way he's acting, I wouldn't trust the bastard an inch. You can tell that he REALLY wants to let Rook die.

>>30910610
>Was there *truly* no other choice?"

"Unless you were hiding an infinite supply of expentable players to guard your little gadget then no, there wasn't any other choice. The smilers would direct every single corrector and corrector-player hybrid from all the hives they have on your players. Even if your soldiers manage to destroy the infinate amount of footsoldiers the smilers could manufacture in the Hives then you would have to face the smilers themselves.

Inaction would kill us all Argent."

>>30910681

>Inaction would kill us all Argent

It's killing Shuya right now if we don't slow that shit down right *now*. One or two more action phases and he's dead.

>>30910610
"Mr. Ebari - Prominence - wishing for no further bloodshed is a fool's dream. The Smiler's have an end-game, an end-game where they create /monsters/ and /abominations/ out of /people/. I could go on, but this isn't a secure connection.

Please. In order to protect those who have put their trust in you and to save those who aren't even aware of all this, I need you to /trust/ me and come hear what I have to tell you, see what I have to show you."

>>30910678

I'm supporting this one. After this conversation, I seriously don't think we can rely on Argent Prominence too much. We do not want him in possession of the Red World's superweapon, because that's a card that remains up our sleeve.

For now, let them bring Rook to the hospital or whatever. If he doesn't want to come down, that's his fucking problem.

>>30910610
"No further bloodshed. That's cute, but the Smilers are already in their Endgame. Anything I can do to kick them in the teeth is a few more seconds before they end the goddamn world.

Don't look down your nose at me, Argent."

>>30910610
"That's fine. I don't work to be appreciated." pause "There's a lot to talk about Argent, some information was obtained through that bloodshed. And it may decide whether your plan survives or we end up gutted like helpless lambs."

>>30910610
"You underestimated the Smilers. When last we talked you said 'the hour was later than you know'. I say the same to you. If necessary, could you make your move tomorrow? They could.

"You're free to be disappointed in me. All those deaths are on my head. But I would like to make my reasons known. I'll do what I can for Rook, but..."

[X] "-I need you down *here*. There's something I have to show you."
[X] "He may not last that long."

>>30910668
Good lord, no threats, even indirect ones.

>>30910678
He's choosing to look at the bigger picture, but without actually seeing what we can. He probably knows a lot we don't. What this conversation is showing me more than anything is that he trusts himself at least as much as Red Joker trusts himself, and has the same opinion of those who cross him.

>more talking
>Shuya is literally dieing in front of us and sprouting a plant horror

Can we at least hop to the read momentarily and let our Sphere of Annihilation chow down a bit on the Plant Horror sprouting from Shuya's chest before he up and dies?

>>30910744

Yep this.

>>30910721

We're asking this dude for what is basically a favour. Can we try to avoid provoking him? He's furious at us!

>>30910744
>Good lord, no threats, even indirect ones.

Seconded.

If anything, play the 'you trusted the old red joker, so trust me' card.


Agreeing with watashiwa here.

>>30910753
Argent is senting someone over, we can't do anything until he comes here.

>>30910778

Uh, yeah we can. We need to meet at the rift, remember?

>>30910744
>>30910778

Yeah, let's not give the plot away. Wait for Armaros to get here, and then we can send him off.

>>30910753
>Can we at least hop to the read momentarily and let our Sphere of Annihilation chow down a bit on the Plant Horror sprouting from Shuya's chest before he up and dies?

Seems like we could at -least- stall the thing on the red - but that means we stop talking

Best thing we could do is use a Maser Emitter in the red, actually - it hurts living things more than player armor, and the plant shit is entirely living. It'd be worth an armory beacon just to microwave the thing into partial submission so he LIVES to get surgery

>>30910778

The way Haze described it has me thinking we don't have the time to wait for Argent's goon. We're dawdling on the phone. It's basically feeding off his essence core right this instant and growing fast. By the time whomever he sent gets here it'll be too late.

And I simply want us to transition to red, jam the nihl in, feed a bit, and jump back out. Quick and painless.

>>30910831
>And I simply want us to transition to red, jam the nihl in, feed a bit, and jump back out. Quick and painless.

yeah we need to do something.

Shuya was a context clue

>>30910744
Supporting on all points

>>30910831
Haze should stay in the real and wait for the guy.
We go red.

On the other hand... The Nihl doesn't eat humans in the real. Might it allow us to eat the tumor without affecting him?

>>30910812
>>30910831
>>30910847
Yes

We need to use the Nihl to give him more time

>>30910851
>On the other hand... The Nihl doesn't eat humans in the real. Might it allow us to eat the tumor without affecting him?

Could we use the nihl in reverse, to *give* strength to Shuya?

(Gentlemen; My apologies, there are a *lot* of posts to take into account. I hope that I've been able to capture the gist of it.)

>>30910637
>>30910667

"And if he's infectious?" Mr. Ebara's voice is deceptively mild. "-Are you aware of this...parasite's...properties? Can you be completely sure?"

You can't capture the progression of the disease with your phone's camera - It can't see what *you* can, in the Nihl Sphere's light.

"Don't confuse caution with a lack of concern, young man; A secure holding cell has been prepared. Mr. Sakaguchi is approaching with all haste - The importance of this task has been impressed upon him."

>>30910744

He softens. Fractionally.

"We will do everything we can for him, Anon. Never doubt that."

> [X] "He may not last that long."

"Then," Mr. Ebara says, carefully, "-I hope that Mr. Sakaguchi arrives in time."

>>30910658

The phone clicks off. The world blurs red.

STAGE: DIS

The iron city. Black and grey, beneath crimson skies.

"Joker-" Haze's voice sounds puny amid the desolation - The alley you're in is, strangely, little changed from the real world. Cleaner, perhaps, without the stench and the garbage that plagues it's shadow; But the barren streets have clearly never been inhabited by any human, the buildings sharp, bristling shapes - The cyclopean windows mere pools of seething and inky darkness - like jagged fingers stabbing accusingly into the sky.

"Joker, over *here*!"

Haze is standing, staring. His posture is taut with horror, as he stares forward - At the thing that Palladium Rook is becoming.

(Continued)

>>30910868

That's probably what Pazuzu's other sphere does. We have the Negative sphere. He has the positive.

>>30910880

..... that would explain a lot

>>30910880
What happens if the two touch?

>>30910872
This is one reason why "For the greater good" really bugs me as a guiding philosophy. It does suggest at what that containment breach we heard about last time was about though.

I wonder if it's time for Joker to practice medicine.

>>30910919
Maybe you open the gate between worlds?

>>30910919
>>30910927

well pazzy had two in his head for the longest time until hecate stole one.

if we want an answer to that question, we need to get off her ass and find her.

>>30910927

>Maybe you open the gate between worlds?

It's a key, though. An incomplete key I may add. And keys open DOORS. Not gates.

What we need to do is rip off Pazzy's head and insert out half-key into the socket and open that door.

>>30910927
Dr Joker to the Hollow Sun, paging Doctor Joker to the Hollow Sun.

>>30910927
>>30910955

>practice medicine

Damnit, if only I could find that Dr. Piccolo daily pose pill in this 4,000 plus image folder..

File: 1395140488848.jpg-(33 KB, 640x265, jokercity.jpg)

33 KB JPG

>>30910872

Rook - Or Rook's armoured form, anyway - is sprawled in an untidy heap against the wall. Twists of night are knotted around him, growing out of him - Vast, braided cables of interstellar black, frayed into strands; A clotted web, a fractal arterial network pumping shadow in a oozing slick from the hollow slits in his helm, from the joints in his armour...

The bony juts of ebon matter have grown out of him, grown around him, overlapping in a spiny shell, a carapace dense but somehow rusted - A sense of deja vu strikes, as more and more of the cancerous growths erupt, pushing through his discoloured silver armour, the groan of strain echoing in the air-

The infection seems to be clustered around his back - Perching on him, growing like exotic and noisome fungi. It seems to be equal parts ropey plant matter and slime; The forms shifting, fluid, constantly in transition. Rook shudders, like a dog with nightmares - Or perhaps it's just the riling motion of the parasitic growths, spreading in fast-forward.

"Jesus," Haze says, bleakly - He has his Plague Gun in his hand, but he doesn't seem to know what to do with it. He raises it, uncertainly...Then lowers it, again. "We have to *do* something-"

[ ] "Get him into the Hollow Sun. Now."
[ ] "Don't touch him. It looks contagious."
[ ] "-How long has he been like this?"
[ ] "Any ideas?"
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>30910966
Can we try to rip out the stuff without killing him?
Once it's seperated, the Nihl can eat it. We are immune, after all.

Tell Haze that he mustn't touch the stuff.

>>30910966
Consume most of that thing with the nihil sphere.

>>30910953
If the Nihl Sphere is a key it's a fucking Swiss Army key. I don't think we've found anything Red World related that it doesn't do something to.

>>30910955
I'm hearing the Medic's crazed laughter in my head right now.

>>30910966
"Argent's taking the high road. I'll do what I can to help. Is your plague gun more effective against living targets?"

If yes, have him use it. If not, triage with the Nihl Sphere. Then use the Assault Shroud to wrap him (like our first meeting, heh), and get him into the Hollow Sun.

You said we're near the Hollow Sun, right OP? We'll want to keep an eye out for Armaros.

By the way, sorry to hear that you've been sick. Hope you're getting better.

>>30910966

"There's a hidden door about so many steps thattaway. There will be a player in there named Tyrian. Bring him here with anything he thinks this thing will feed on."

I have a sinking suspicion that if we simply start ripping and tearing on this thing it'll just kill Rook faster as it attempts to heal the damage we do to it from Rook's essence core. Place our hand with the Nihl near the largest cluster and *gently* begin pulling it off. Start pumping a little bit of our cobalt booster down our arm so it will have something else to feed off of. It's a parasite. Or leach. Or tick. Find the head and pull it out first. If we don't, it'll just regrow.

>>30910966
>[ ] "Don't touch him. It looks contagious."

Other
We shift him into the hollow sun ourselves.

We seem to be proofed against it after all.

>>30910966
>[X] "Get him into the Hollow Sun. Now."

HAHA, TIME FOR EMERGENCY SURGERY

CUT ALL THE BAD OUT

>>30910966
[X] "Don't touch him. It looks contagious."
[X] "Get him into the Hollow Sun. Now."

>>30910966
>[ ] Free

Armory beacon up a Maser Emitter and grab the immolator - use the immolator to contain growth of the plants outside the body, and the maser emitter to vaporise fleshy bits and nodes that seem to be fueling growth.

avoid hurting *rook* but contain the growth.

>>30910966
Take him into the goddamn Hollow Sun

Maybe apply Nihl

Whatever the case, do it fast

>>30910966

Guys I'm not sure we want to bring this shit into the hollow sun. Just saying.

>>30911079
...What if it transfers the position of the Sun to Alura?

>>30911068

>do it fast

We're out of time. We're doing Dr. Joker's Amateur Surgery Hour here.

>>30911079

Tyrian should have set up that quarantine containment by now.

I still think using the Nihl is a bad idea. Get it to feed off of our cobalt booster first so it won't drain Rook dry as it repairs the damage we do to it first before we start immolating it.

>>30911064

Give Haze a maser emitter and put him on damage control also.

I hate to do it, but.... Deploy a single drone, boost it, and *lance* the boil on his back before it grows *more*.

our primary objectives now are to 1) contain growth 2) preserve rook 3) wait for backup and containment to arrive.

This means: doing the containing ourselves, sendinig haze for help/backup/messages.

> [X] "Don't touch him. It looks contagious."

"But-" Haze hesitates, but something in your tone of voice has convinced him. He nods, slowly, a terrible tension clearly working within him.

> "Argent's taking the high road. I'll do what I can to help. Is your plague gun more effective against living targets?"

"It...*should* be," he answers, uncertainly. "But if he's like this - Joker, it may *kill* him."

>>30910992
>>30910993
>>30911024

You close in. Crackling talons of light extend from the Helix Gauntlet - The Nihl Sphere, set in it's socket, crazing with new illumination. The violet light pulses with a new heartbeat, as you reach out towards Rook; You're almost uncertain where to *begin*. The growth is so rampant, so violent - Like decades-old kudzu or ivy - there's something unholy in the writhing motion, teeming with mad floral life...

Roses, you realize.

Black roses.

The vein-shadows seem to shudder, the twisting semi-liquid growths squirming and shifting as you draw close - The right half of Rook's helm bulging, a crack opening up in his visor. There are dozens of small black blossoms twining around his skull, like a crown of thorns-

And then, without warning, they lunge for you.

(Continued)

>>30911104

The shit we do for our supposed friends.

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>>30911104
>And then, without warning, they lunge for you.

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>>30911104
>And then, without warning, they lunge for you.

>>30910919
If it touches, it's gay.

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>>30911104
>>30911108

Where's the gif of Caster's Cthulhu eating the kid when you need it?

>>30911104
>And then, without warning, they lunge for you.

We have Muleta now.

The red joker reacts reflexively, raising an arm to ward off a blow- and the assault shroudh moves instead, microfilament fibers of the duster rising of their own volition cutting off the thrust of black roses with razor-sharp precision -

- huh. You're surprised at how easy it is to control like a second limb - and worried that you're moving beyond something with two limbs, something human - something like what you face now.

My try at writing something!

You can almost hear them screeching and hissing - But that must be just your imagination, as they move like riling serpents. "Fuck-!" Haze gurgles - The profanity explodes from his voxponder, startled by the sudden lashing motion. "JOKER, GET AWAY FROM HIM-"

But they're too slow, too weak. Desperation, perhaps, has given them a mindless strength; Your armour, too, is made of sterner stuff than Rook's, silver or not. They simply can't find purchase - The vines wreathe around your arm, your neck, coiling as they try to choke you, to strangle you, making enervated clicking noises-

And then you bring the Sinistral up and across, and slash through them with one vicious scything blow.

The chittering screech that follows is *real* now - The blossoms scream as you hack them off the vine, still groping blindly for you as the ground becomes littered with shrieking black buds and petals. They coil around you, like questing fingers, seeking to vice shut around your form...

Then your Assault Shroud becomes blades.

The nanofiber material - Now single-edged, razor-keen, hiltless blades - bristles outwards like a cape, like a duster; It's like chain mail, overlapping fangs uniting in a cloak of flawless knives. The slightest twitch, and the edges slash through the hungry vines - You step on them indiscriminately, hacking through the growing thicket; Crushing them under your feet as you drive closer and closer...

-And plunge the solid-light talons of EXEC_CONSUME into Rook's torso.

(Continued)

>>30911169

Holy shit.

INSTANT justiifcation for armor and mulete upgrades

>>30911169

The infection doesn't like that. It doesn't like it at all. Rook's body jerks, hard - The raw, ropey black ends of slashed vines bristling up from the holes in his armour, as if they're still - Against all odds - trying to scream at you. The half-plant, half-oil substance twitches weakly in protest; It loses cohesion as sizzling energies race up your arm, feeding the Nihl Sphere - You're *killing* it as fast as it's growing, your free hand ripping it out by the roots again and again, flinging it to the side in ropey sprays of ichor...

>>30911057
>>30911068

Close by, the air swirls - Ozone crackling, flickers of electricity coalescing into a sizzling door of lightning; The Hollow Sun portal yawns open before you, the light casting flickering shadows on the surreal struggle - You hang on grimly, as Rook convulses and jerks like a man on the electric chair, digging deep, searching for the source of the infection-

"STOP - STOP!"

Haze has to shout, to make himself heard - He's hovering at the side, agonized, not daring to close in - his weapon in his hand, completely useless for the current situation.

"JOKER, YOU HAVE TO STOP!"

[ ] "It's working!"
[ ] "-Almost got it-"
[ ] "Haze, *stay back*!"
[ ] Drag Rook into the Hollow Sun.
[ ] Free

YOU HAVE CONTROL

You remember when we were discussing about duplicating the Crisis Arm with the emulator module?

Can we duplicate the Helix Gauntlet?

>>30911185
>[ ] "Haze, *stay back*!"

>>30911187
>Can we duplicate the Helix Gauntlet?
The Nihl can't be duplicated.

Can we duplicate relics yet? Because dual Assault Shroud would be fun.

>>30911185
We drag him into the Hollow Sun. He's probably about to die.

>>30911187

(I've actually considered that: On reflection, I would say that you *could*, but it would be meaningless without a second Nihl Sphere - Which you can't duplicate.)

>>30911185
>"JOKER, YOU HAVE TO STOP!"

"Haze, stay back. Its working, I've almost got this. "

Guys, i'm..... 99% certain this may be where Tyrian's death flag comes up (we were warned not to blame ourselves)

"go through, find tyrian. Make SURE he's ready on his end! "

>>30911185
>[X] "Haze, *stay back*!"
>[X] Drag Rook into the Hollow Sun.

We're just delaying it. We have to bring out the desperate measures.

>>30911185

"I'm committed now! If I stop it'll regrow and kill him faster!"

Find the head or root system and do it FAST. It's probably latched onto his essence core. Feed our Cobalt Booster down our arm so it has THAT to feed off of and not Rook's essence.

>>30911212
So we just need to get Pazuzu's second eye.

>>30911212
Whelp, now we HAVE to rip out Pazuzu's other eye.

>>30911212
>(I've actually considered that: On reflection, I would say that you *could*, but it would be meaningless without a second Nihl Sphere - Which you can't duplicate.)

Actually, practically, doesn't this mean we can use the module to change which arm/slot a piece of gear takes?

IE, emulate a left-arm crisis arm while keeping the helix gauntlet active?

>>30911213
So we either kill Rook if we are unlucky or we kill Tyrian.

Welp... Can't we just take a moment to survey the situation?

>>30911227

(Unfortunately, you'd need the Crisis Arm active to be able to imitate it with the Emulator module. So it'd be two Crisis Arms, or two Nova Cannons, or two Immolators at once.)

>>30911213
>Guys, i'm..... 99% certain this may be where Tyrian's death flag comes up (we were warned not to blame ourselves)

OH SHIT IS IT TODAY

NO HOLLOW SUN THEN

>>30911213

I actually don't remember Tyrian's death flag. The only ones I remember were Spaghetti-san's and Regios'.

>>30911240

That was Volt Regios, not Tyrian Edge.

>>30911235
Or two chainguns, once we get those charging elements.

>>30911235

What about the Interceptor Array?

>>30911233
>Welp... Can't we just take a moment to survey the situation?

The correct answer to this is:
CALM HAZE THE FUCK DOWN so he doesn't missile us or break down if rook dies.
Slow the growth
wait for armaros

>>30911241
i think i confused regios and tyrian

>>30911213
>>30911240
It's not

>>30911255

thats super unassuring

>>30911185
>[X] Drag Rook into the Hollow Sun.
This infection, like most infections, doesn't care if it kills its host. Get Rook in, keep Haze back, we need to nip this sucker as soon as possible, and we can't do that with the Nihl Sphere--Alura's present is feeding off of Rook, and regenerating from him.

>>30911272
>we need to nip this sucker as soon as possible,

Yup.

Which means: give haze a task: show armaros the way in

>>30911263
Volt Regios isn't around, and he's the one with the death flag

>>30911247

(Yes.)

>>30911249

(It's not a one-handed weapon.)

>>30911220

> [X] "Haze, *stay back*!"

He catches himself - Flinches back, before he takes the disastrous step into range - but Haze is vibrating with tension, as he jabs a finger in your direction.

> "Haze, stay back. Its working, I've almost got this. "
> "I'm committed now! If I stop it'll regrow and kill him faster!"

Where's the source of it? It seems to be latched onto the very core of Palladium Rook's being - But it's more than that, like barbed fishhooks sunk into his nervous system. Each time you wrench at him, he thrashes - It's like trying to pull off someone's arm with your bare hands, fighting something deep and grimly rooted...

"You're killing him *now*! LOOK!"

...He's right. You're doing immense damage to the parasite, but - That's just making it grow back all the faster. It reminds you, in a hideously ironic twist, of Distortion Haze's own contagion - The one that constantly fuels itself on the user's Essence, decay running rampant in fast-forward.

The faster you destroy it, the faster it grows back. Impasse - Except for Rook's rapidly-diminishing life. The colour has already faded from his cracked and battered armour; The dim light in his eyes flickering to unholy embers-

> [X] Drag Rook into the Hollow Sun.

> "Go through, find tyrian. Make SURE he's ready on his end! "

With the oozing filaments desperately trying to find purchase on your armour, it's not hard to drag Rook into the portal beyond. Haze shudders, in an agony of indecision - But at last, common sense wins out.

At last, he sprints into the portal, moments before you.

(Continued)

>>30911319
Oh fuck, this is how we're going to get him killed

>>30911319

>faster you destroy it, faster it grows back.

I thought as much before we J-J-JAMMED it in.. Should've went with the slowly prying it out approach while letting the parasite feed off of our booster or something. Hell, we have a light fusion cell on us, could have let it suck on that. Just something to keep it from eating Rook.

>>30911350
Wouldn't have worked. The parasite doesn't need outside sustenance, it has all it wants in Rook. Until it drains him while attempting to stay alive.

Guys, can Exec_Dictum tell the growth to freeze?

>>30911366
Is the growth a player? Dictum only affects players.

>>30911366
Actually, it seems like it doesn't work on Correctors.

However, Repulse causes correctors to feel uncomfortable.
I wonder if Reap would allow us to see into Alura's mind, due to the growth's link to her.

>>30911319

A wave of disorientation sweeps over you; Almost familiar, now, like plunging headfirst into cold water. You feel your myomer muscles lock, frozen in place for an eternal moment, expecting the command chamber of the Hollow Sun to materialize...

-It doesn't.

Instead, the boiling winds of infinity slam into you, a thunderclap of displaced air echoing in a wide-open space, as you realize...

You're *on* the Hollow Sun. The surface of it, at least - On the great rotating cylinder that holds the gibbets of the Hellions.

The Hellions-

A warning scrolls on your HUD, a chain of alien symbols and letters. The meaning somehow communicates itself to you, as red light plays across the vast space; Sirens duelling in the background, as a huge wave of emerald sparks ripple across the gibbets in a sweeping wave of animation-

> PROCESSING SYSTEM ACCESS AUTHORITY...
> SYSTEM AUTHORITY ENAB...

"Joker!" Tyrian Edge's voice crackles over the in-line channel; You can hear him - *He* can hear *you* - anywhere on the Hollow Sun. But as tics of red lightning crackle across the spined surface of cross-stitched girders, it's becoming clear that something is wrong.

Something is very, very wrong.

"Joker, the system's going insane-"

> SYSTEM AUTHORITY DENIED
> BLACK JOKER INFESTATION DETECTED
> PRIMARY DEFENCES ENGAGED

Above you, the shadow of wings. The hum of charged swords and lances; You hear the hum of gravimetric engines engaging, as the first of the Hellions go live. Your HUD lights up with target locks, even as looping vines twitch feebly against your arm-

"They're going to *fire on you*, Joker. I-" A low crackle. "-I can't *stop* them-"

HP: 250.6%
COBALT BOOSTER: 134%
ASSAULT SHROUD: 135%
METER: 22%

YOU HAVE CONTROL

>>30911408
>BLACK JOKER INFESTATION DETECTED
FUCK

>>30911408

>Black Joker
>We brought the fucking pendant

GOD DAMNIT.

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Hey guys! I drew a thing!

>>30911408
>> BLACK JOKER INFESTATION DETECTED
Is it the pendant or is it Cross?

...Should we be glad that we had our Hellion production on low?

OP, do we know how big the Hellion reserves are?

>>30911429

oh yeah, didn't resize, sorry folks!

>>30911429

(That's amazing! I like the look of it - It's a lot like what I had in mind for the character. Excellent work.)

>>30911429
That's quite awesome.
But there's one vulcan on each wrist.

Can you make a view of Red Joker with Crisis Arm, in a boxing stance?

>>30911408
RUN AWAY

>>30911429
Goddamn

Better than mine

>>30911408
OP, is Cross with us?

>>30911464
>even as looping vines twitch feebly against your arm

>>30911408
Fuck

It's gotta be the pendant. Find it, throw it away from us

>>30911464

(Yes. You're holding onto him, in fact.)

>>30911435

(You don't have an exact number at present, but you would say there are several hundred currently active.)

>>30911408
Holy shit, Black Joker is persona non grata like we've not seen.

Have Tyrian prepare an isolation chamber, we want to stick Rook in there and get him stasis'd if possible. Avoid destroying our Hellions, we're not building any more right now. Guess we activate the Carnifex and start running until we can override.

Then of course we put "Black Joker who isn't actually Red Joker" back on the persona non grata list.

>>30911422
>>30911435
We had the crucifix when we took the Hollow Sun. It's the parasite.

>>30911429
Jesus Christ, that is damn awesome.

>>30911408
>>30911408

"GOD DAMNIT."

Tag the pendant with something, ANYTHING, and HURL that pendant we reacquired from whats-his-name the priest.. we can look for it LATER. Right now our fortress is being testy.

>>30911429

10/10 would hold hands with

>>30911472
No, it's Cross.
Or is it?
It could be either, even if Cross is infected by Alura.

Welp, what do we do?

>>30911473
>(You don't have an exact number at present, but you would say there are several hundred currently active.)
We could take on a few hundred. But is there maybe another choice?


Ok, so let's assume that the pendant is somehow related to the Black Joker.
I wish we could negotiate with the Hollow Sun.

>>>>30911487
We're not going to be able to get him into an isolation chamber, at least, not unless we destroy all of the Hellions.

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>>30911455

I have a [MAXIMUM JOKER] if you prefer

ugh, I'm on my laptop so this scanned in messy as fuck, I do apologize, I'll do better once my main PC is up and running

>>30911487

You sure? The only thing on us is the cross. Plus Tyrian explicitly stated the Hellions were targetting US.

>>30911487

(Gentlemen: Watashiwa's correct in this instance. You were in possession of the pendant when you first discovered the Hollow Sun. My apologies - I should have clarified.)

>>30911514
Then we really don't have any choice other than to get the fuck out of here.

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>>30911501

and some of the Armoury

>>30911455

really? I honestly thought there was two. I'll change that for the final version.

anybody notice anything else I missed out?

>>30911501
It's interesting how imagination differs.
I expected the Crisis Arm to be more like three claws that fuse into an actual miniature wrecking ball when attacking.

>>30911514

Fuck, so it is the infection. Which is incredibly, incredibly bad news.

>>30911514
So its the cross?

>>30911520
Agreed.

>>30911526

yeah, no doubt everybody has their own imagination of what the joker looks like, this is just my take on him. I took a LOT of inspiration from the claw the Banshee gundamn wields, it just sorta snapped in my mind as "yes, this is the crisis arm!"

>>30911525
>double-barrelled Plasma Vulcans
Well, I guess we are both kind of right. I'd imagine both barrells to look more like a coherent unit than two weapons.
What would a double-barrelled Vulcan even look like? And doesn't a Vulcan technically have many barrells already?

Have you considered how they retreat into the forearms?

Man, now I want to draw, as well. Maybe I'll try something.

>>30911525

(I'd say that the double Vulcans look great.)

>>30911520

(Gentlemen, I'll need clearer instructions than that for the next phase.)

Guys:
What about EXEC_REND on Cross?
It will transport him into the real world and away from the Hollow Sun.
It might, however, put him into space. And cause the Black Joker to run wild in the Real.

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>>30911526
I see where you're coming from. I always imagined it as similar to a Counter Sword (pic related)

>>30911560
Can we log out of the red and go in the real world?

>>30911576

(Once you're out of the Hollow Sun.)

>>30911560
>(Gentlemen, I'll need clearer instructions than that for the next phase.)
So the Hollow Sun has accepted our authority. But it wants to get rid of the infestation.

We are in space, right?
So we can't exactly "get the fuck out", because our only means of doing that would be our Scrander... Which isn't space-capable.

We can't get rid of Cross. Because that will just cause his inevitable death.
But we can't keep him or the Hellions will kill him.

I would say that we kill off our Hellions.
However, there is one issue: What if the Hollow Sun then uses a trump card? Some kind of suicide attack when there's no Hellions left?

>>30911560

Use Fortress mode, and throw up a barrier around ourselves and Rook. Get on the horn with Tyriant, and yell at him until he does his job.

I'd say we Rend to the real, dump everything into one or two Rends giving us a handful of seconds to allow our Player form to simultaneously eat the infection in Rook's Player and Real body at the same time. We only need a moment.

>>30911580
Then lets get out of the Hollow Sun.

>>30911560
I guess we should see if Tyrian can open another portal for us, and use Fortress Mode so we don't have to kill or get killed by any Hellions.

>>30911514
Damned with faint praise. At least I remembered that much.

>>30911525
Not to scale I guess? The Tau Gun is fuckhuge.

>>30911560
Activate Carnifex, make for the core with Rook. See if Tyrian can shut down the defenses, or at least restrict their operational area to near the gibbets.

>>30911585
Who's Cross?

>>30911614
>Cross
I just facepalmed...
Yesterday I said Obama instead of Putin. Now I say Cross instead of Rook.
I might start to go retarded.

>>30911560
>>30911443

aww thanks man! makes me all warm and fuzzy inside

>>30911548

yeah "double barreled" and "vulcans" kinda doesn't work in the same sentence, for me at least, so I drew two triple barreled vulcans instead which is how I've been imagining it anyway.
the forearms are hella beastly since it fits in "MOST" of the vulcans, truth be told I drew them a little too large so his forearm looks massively thick, but since the rest of his weapons draw themselves into existence it stands to reason the vulcans would as well, storing the essential parts in the forearms for faster deployment

>>30911614

yeah the Tau gun is XBOXHUGE, no, no... no scale